Blog: Monthly message from our Chair Sir Andrew Burns KCMG

As you will see below, our key priorities at the moment are our
latest consultations on training for the Bar and on our response to
the recommendations of the Competition and Markets Authority. I do
urge you to read our consultation documents and to offer us your
views. Do please also come to our seminars, roadshows or webinars
if you can. You'll find details of the times and dates below.

But these are by no means our only focus. This month we are also
updating the
third edition of our Handbook which includes updated
Disciplinary Tribunal Regulations (DTRs) and new rules on parental
leave, in addition to some minor amendments to provide additional
clarity. One of the key new rules in the DTRs concerns the
treatment of vulnerable witnesses. Improving access to justice for
vulnerable clients, with a focus on immigration and young people is
one of our equality objectives for 2017/18.

Following a public consultation in July 2015, we have now
approved and updated eight areas overall in the DTRs, including
rules concerning:

The publication of reasons for the Tribunal Decision where
charges have been dismissed.

The handling of evidence and documents that are not submitted
in line with directions of the Tribunal.

Specific provisions to clarify the measures that can be put in
place to help vulnerable witnesses give evidence.

The removal of deferred sentences and an express power to
postpone some suspensions in exceptional circumstances.

The removal of the Tribunal's ability to remove a barrister's
"rights and privileges" as a member of their Inn

The revised regulations seek to modernise and streamline
existing regulation and were approved by the Legal Services Board
(LSB) in June.

A year ago, our Equality and Access to Justice Team launched a
consultation on a rule change to enable practitioners at the
self-employed Bar to claim Shared Parental Leave, with the aim of
encouraging a culture whereby both parents can care for children in
the first year of birth or adoption. The new Handbook contains the
new rules which have emanated from the consultation. This means
that all chambers must have a policy that allows any member who
becomes the carer of a child to take parental leave. While the
precise details of such policies are for individual chambers to
decide, the new rule requires that flexible working arrangements be
available to members during their parental leave.

Along with the Bar Council we plan to produce additional
guidance on this change, and you have until November 2018 to update
your policies.